CRY to host ‘Walk to EmpowHER’ in Hyderabad on November 24

Hyderabad: CRY – Child Rights and You, a leading Indian non-profit organisation, will hold the second edition of its awareness walk, ‘Walk to EmpowHER’, on Sunday, November 24, 2024. The event will take place at Necklace Road in Hyderabad from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., aiming to raise awareness about the barriers that prevent Indian girls from completing their education.

The ‘Walk to EmpowHER’ is part of CRY’s national campaign, ‘Poori Padhai Desh Ki Bhalai’, which focuses on ensuring every girl in India completes her higher secondary education. The walkathon is being organised simultaneously in Chennai and Bengaluru on the same day, further expanding the initiative to address this critical issue across Southern India.

John Roberts, Regional Director of CRY South, highlighted the importance of the event, stating, “Through these awareness walks, CRY envisions a brighter future where every girl can confidently pursue her dreams and complete her education.”

The event will feature inspiring stories from girls who have overcome barriers to education and will be attended by notable figures including A. Nirmala Kanthi Wesley, IAS, Director, Women Development & Child Welfare, Telangana, actor and writer, and journalist Srividya Maharshi, Femina Miss India 2020 and actor Manasa Varanasi, and actor Divya Sripada. These distinguished guests will show their support for the cause and encourage public participation.

In addition to the walk, CRY’s campaign continues to push for changes that will allow girls to stay in school longer. Despite progress in primary education enrollment, dropout rates for girls rise significantly at the secondary and higher secondary levels.

According to UDISE data (2021-22), the Gross Enrollment Ratio for girls drops from 101.1% at the elementary level to 58.2% at the higher secondary level. This decline is driven by socio-economic factors, including poverty, gender discrimination, and regional disparities, which often lead to child marriage, early motherhood, and child labour.

CRY’s ‘Poori Padhai Desh Ki Bhalai’ campaign has made strides in addressing these issues, collaborating with 145 partner organisations across 126 districts in 20 states. The campaign has successfully re-enrolled nearly 200,000 girls across 5,000 villages and slums in India, showcasing the power of collective action in changing the educational landscape for girls.

John Roberts said, “Empowering girls through education not only secures their future but also contributes to building a stronger, more prosperous nation. We encourage everyone to join us at the Walk to EmpowHER and help drive this much-needed change.”